The Wind Cries Mary (Imperial) Sunday 2^nd April 2006 ____________________________________________________________________

Due to congestion problems neither team could get a pitch for 10.30am, so we switched to a 2.00pm kick off. This meant that neither Tom nor Oscar could play so Max swapped to the Green’s to even the numbers. Then Jim also had to pull out giving us the ideal opportunity to give Joel a game and giving us nine players per team. The gale force wind was howling from end to end which meant one half defending and one half attacking.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joby

Sam James

Luke Ethan Joel

Josef

Rolling Subs: Jack & Sam K

We kicked into the wind in the first half, and after an attack Joel tried to clear but the wind just took it off. Sam B & Joel tried a one-two but the ball went out. The ball came into the area and Joel, who has been a goalie for the past few years, forgot that he was on pitch and picked it up! They scored from the resultant penalty 1-0. We attacked straight at them but their ‘keeper got to the ball just ahead of Josef. From his long kick with the wind it bounced high and Joby fumbled under pressure from an attacker. The ball came loose at a very acute angle but they blasted it high into the net 2-0. Just after that, the goal collapsed for the third time (it really was windy!) They won another corner with so much wind assisted pressure and as it was swung in, an Imperial attacker went for it at the near post and buried it 3-0.

Sam K went on a great run but was tackled as he neared the goal and had to be treated for an injury. Sam recovered to take the free kick, but it flew over the bar. They attacked again but this time James was there to clear. We seemed to just stand around and let them shoot, which gave Joby no chance 4-0. Luke put a great pass through for Sam K to run after, and despite the attention of four defenders he got the cross in, only to see Josef just miss making good contact and the ball went the wrong side of the post. Joel threw well to Sam K who battled through defenders. He was unable to shoot but there was a suspicion of a push, but the ref’ missed it. Josef and Joel worked the ball well down the wing with throws.

James played a great ball through for Sam K to chase but he was tackled as he bore down on goal. Sam B put in two great corners, which Jack attacked, but was unable to find the killer touch. They attacked and won a corner. It was hit in powerfully and an Imperial attacker rose at the near post to glance it into the net 5-0. We were winning lots of corners with Sam B and Josef swinging them in, but we were unable to make meaningful contact. Sam & Sam combined well down the wing, but Ethan just missed getting to the cross. Joel worked hard out wide and crossed in to Sam K, and he made no mistake 5-1. Jack won a throw, which went to Luke, then Ethan and finally Sam K, but he just couldn’t get it on target. Sam B went on a great run down the wing, but he was tackled before he could cross. There was a big melee in our area and eventually Sam B came clear with it. He found Sam K who ran in on the ‘keeper and made no mistake with it 5-2. Jack, Luke and Sam K then combined well to get the ball to Ethan, but his shot lacked power and the ‘keeper grabbed it. Joby kicked long for Sam K to chase, but the defender just got there ahead of him. They tried it again, and this time Sam K hit the side net with his shot.

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for excellent play and continuous effort – Joel

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Mark Spike

Dan Josh Jordan

Joe

Rolling Subs: Callum & Max

They won the toss and elected to kick into the wind in the first half. We won a corner, which Joe hit in and Josh at the back post just missed it. Jamie kicked so big that after two bounces it was with their ‘keeper. No one had gotten that far forward. A good throw by Joe was chased by Josh and he got it through for Dan, but the ‘keeper just got there ahead of him. Jamie then did another kick, which Joe got to in the middle of three defenders. It broke out to Dan who walloped it, but it hit a defender and that took the sting from the shot and the 'keeper gathered it. Josh took an injury to his toe and we kicked it out. After treatment, they very sportingly threw it back to us. Spike battled really hard and got a great ball through for Joe to chase, but the wind took it away. We won a corner after Max had battled for it and Joe hit it in. It came to Callum with his back to goal and he laid it back to Spike, who on the edge of the area was the nearest player to our goal, but his well struck shot was wide.

Callum won the ball in defence and played it down the line to Dan. He helped it on to Max, who turned inside and crossed in, but we just couldn’t get the touch. Spike won the ball in defence and played it down the line to Joe, and from a very acute angle, Joe hit it and the ‘keeper could only parry it, but we had no one there following up. It was a great shot on target however, considering the angle he was at. Callum and Spike combined to win the ball and fed Max, who played it down the line for Dan. Dan used his strength to barge the player away and crossed for Joe, who tried to turn but was crowded out. Max won it and went wide to Joe who cut inside and shot, only for the ‘keeper to make a great save at the expense of a corner.

The second half meant we were kicking into the wind, so how would that affect the game? Josh was straight into the wars again with a ball in the unmentionables. He managed to recover and chose to carry on. Callum won the ball in our defence and played a defence splitting pass to leave Josh one on one with the ‘keeper. He hit it as the ‘keeper came out, but it was just the wrong side of the post. From Jamie’s kick, Max won the ball in the middle and fed Dan wide left. He cut inside and hooked the ball over the ‘keeper from a very acute angle, but it hit the right hand stanchion and went clear, Josh returning the ball into the middle but they scrambled it away. Max went on a good run, avoiding having his legs taken from under him and found Josh. He beat a player and put it in for Dan, but the ‘keeper just got there ahead of him. Jamie rolled it to Callum and he played it across to Mark. Mark played it forward to Josh and he went wide to Jordan, but it just went out for a throw. What that was however was a great bit of build up play, starting with the ‘keeper, which as they get stronger will eventually grow into an excellent way of playing.

A great save from Jamie was followed with an excellent ball to Dan, who took on the defender, beat him and then hammered a shot it, which ricocheted off of a defender and Spike just missed getting to the follow up. They had a break which Max slid in to tackle and then Mark made a great tackle to clear for a corner. They then won the ball thirty yards out and hit it with the wind, but Jamie got down well to save for a corner. Max then fought his way through three players to get the ball to Joe. It was eventually put out for a throw, but the effort from Max was brilliant. We attacked from the throw and they cleared as Josh tried to block it by jumping in front and the ball hit the back of his head. He went down in a heap and after some treatment he came off. His eyes were hurting from the blow and he had to go home. Into the dying seconds and we were under pressure and it was cleared long past the last defender to where Joe had been left. He turned, bore down on goal and hit it hard and low. The ‘keeper got part of his body to it, but it wasn’t enough and it looped up over and into the net 0-1. From the kick off, the ref’ blew full time.

Man of the Match – Chosen by Mark Yeoman for a good game & great all round play – Max

It’s amazing how you think the wind will affect the game, you see it borne out and then it surprises you. The first game went with the wind, and had we taken our chances, we could have scored five as well. I thought we were in trouble at half-time of the second game, 0-0 with a half of facing the wind to come, but our boys showed that they are better than that. If anything we played better, and were the stronger team, even into the wind, and the goal at the end was totally deserved. Well done boys.